Genomic analysis of a novel integrative conjugative element in Vibrio cholerae

Taviani, Elisa; Grim, Christopher J.; Chun, Jongsik; Huq, Anwar; Colwell, R.R.

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2009.10.041

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Volume 583, Issue 22 , Pages 3630-3636, 19 November 2009

Genomic analysis of a novel integrative conjugative element in Vibrio cholerae

Edited by Renee Tsolis

Elisa Taviani
- Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
Christopher J. Grim
- University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
Jongsik Chun
- School of Biological Sciences and Institute of Microbiology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea
- International Vaccine Institute, Seoul 151-818, Republic of Korea
Anwar Huq
- Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
R.R. Colwell
- Maryland Pathogen Research Institute, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Corresponding author. Address: University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. Fax: +1 301 314 1248.

Received 12 August 2009; received in revised form 7 October 2009; accepted 13 October 2009. published online 20 October 2009.

Abstract

Integrative conjugative elements (ICEs) are a class of self-transmissible mobile elements that mediate horizontal gene transfer in bacteria, and play an important role in bacterial evolution. Since 1992, ICEs of the SXT/R391 family have been found to be widely distributed among Vibrio cholerae strains isolated in Asian countries. Here we describe ICEVchB33, an ICE found in the genomes of two V. cholerae O1 Eltor strains, one isolated in India, 1994, and the other from Mozambique, 2004. ICEVchB33 revealed a new genetic organization, different from other ICEs of the SXT/R391 family, demonstrating the genomic plasticity of these elements.

Keywords: Vibrio cholerae, Integrative conjugative element (ICE), SXT, Genetic mobile element